Device for filing papers



(No Model.)

J. G.-LA NG. DEVICE FOR FILING PAPERS.

Patented May 6, 1884.

ATENT BEIGE.

' JOHN C. LANG, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICE FOR FILING PAPERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,999, dated May 6, 1884,

TO G/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. LANG, a citize of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvem nts in Devices for the Filing of Papers, of

which the following is a specification, refer and to adapt the same to be inclined backward when released, in order to permit the more convenient examination of the papers without removal from the file.

To this end it consists in the combination, with the follower-board, of peculiar devices for locking the same in position, as hereinafter explained in detail.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my file-box, one side being partially broken away for the more convenient exhibition of the working parts. Fig. 2 isavertical cross section through the follower-board and its locking attachments removed from the box. Figs. 3 and 4 are side views of the follower upon the baseboard or guide, inits locked and unlocked positions, respectively.

A represents the filebox or receptacle in which to confine the papers, and whichmay be of any ordinary or approved form. The drawings represent the box, in an ordinary triangular form, composed of the front board,- a, the bottom board, a, at right angles thereto, and the two side boards, a. The bottom a is grooved longitudinally in the center to admit an elastic bar, 13, which is applied insuch manner that the slots or spaces exist along its two edges and beneath its under surface, this bar being designed to receive and guide the follower-board and its clamping devices. The

bar is constructed of woodor other elastic material, and made sufficiently thin to have considerable elasticity under the strain to which it is subjected. Its outer end is secured Application filed August 31, 1883. (No model.)

in position by screws or other fastenings, as

, shown, and its innerendis preferably inserted looselyinto a hole or mortise in the front board, a, in order that the bar may yield slightly in a longitudinal direction, so as to render ,its elasticity available, as hereinafter explained.

O representsthe follower-board, provided at its lower end with arms or hooks h, which extend downwardpast the edges of the guideboard B, and engage thereunder, as shown, the construction being such as to permit the follower-board to be moved freely forward and backward to and from the front board, and

also of its being inclined backward, as represented in Fig. 4, when released.

For the purpose of maintaining the followerboard in an upright position against the pa pers, and of preventing its'backward movement, I apply to its rear side the vertically sliding bar or brace D, the lower end'ofwhich, d, is extended backward, so as to rest upon the guide B at a point considerably in rear of the follower-board. WVhen the bar D is released, so as to slide freely upon the follower-board, the latter is free to tip backward in the manner represented in Fig. 4; but when the bar is moved downward and held in position with respect to the board its foot d. serves to sustain the followerboard in an upright position,

as represented in Figs. 1 and 3. In order to thus lock the brace D in its lower position, I propose to provide a locking device of any suitable character, the most convenient device for this purpose being the thumb-latch or lever E represented in the drawings. This lever is pivoted midway of its length, at the points ff, to the rear side of the follower-board, and is grooved vertically in its forward side from its lower end to a point near its top to admit of the upper end of the clamp D passing upward between it and the follower-board in the manner represented.

In operating the device the board 0 is pushed forward ,by hand against the papers in an upright position. XIhe brace D descends by gravity until its upper end is engaged beneath and locked down by the upper end of the thumb-lever E engaging thereover, as plainly represented in Fig. 2. When the brace .is'

thus locked, it is retained rigidly in position with respect to the follower-board. In this manner the follower-board is maintained in an upright position, and at the same time the frictional engagement of the brace on top of the guide B and of the arms h beneath the guide is sufficient to prevent the board from sliding back, or, in other words, suflicient to hold it forward to retain the papers under compression. On pressing forward the lower end of the thumb-lever E, its upper end is thrown backward out of engagement with the upper end of the braee,which is consequently free to slide lengthwise of the follower-board, so that the latter may slide backward,and also have a backward inclination.

The brace D may be manifestly attached to the board in any manner which will admit of its sliding lengthwise thereof but on account of its simplicity and cheapness. I prefer to slot the lower end of the board vertically to receive a stud, d, which is extended forward from the lower end of the brace D, and enlarged at the forward end, as plainly represented in Fig. 2. The upper end of the braceD is in the present instance confined and guided between the thumb-lever and the rear face of the follower-board; but any other suitable guide may be substituted. The elasticity of the guide Bis of advantage in that the yielding resistance offered thereby causes it to engage with certainty and firmness upon the clamping devices when the parts are under strain.

For convenience in operating the parts, the brace D may be provided with a finger-piece or projection, 0; but this is not an essential feature of the invention.

I am aware that the guideB has been combined with a clamping device moving thereon; but the guide was secured firmly in position at both ends, and was made of such thickness as to be practically rigid and unyielding.

I believe myself to be the first to render the elasticity of the bar or guide practically available to secure the firm hold of the devices for locking or clamping the follower in posit-ion. The elasticity of the guide also admits of the file confining firmly objects which are unyielding or inelasticin character.

The elastic guide will be advantageous not only in connection with the particular clamping mechanism herein described, but also with any other clamping mechanism of an analogous character which depends for its action upon a frictional engagement with the guide.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a paper-file, a follower-board combined with an elastic guide or base-board,and frictional clamping devices connecting the follower-board and guide, substantially as described.

2. In a paper-file, a guide or base-board combined with a follower-board having a sliding connection therewith. a vertically-movable brace applied to said board, and means, substantially as described, for locking said brace downward.

3. In a paper-file, the clamping device composed of a slotted follower-board having a sliding brace or rear support, the thumb-latch to lock said brace, and foot hooks or arms on the board, combined with aguide or support therefor.

4. In a paper-file, the combination, with a guide or support, of a clamping follower composed of a board having arms or hooks at the lower end, and a vertically-1noving brace or support applied to the follower, the whole arranged, substantially as described, to lean backward at any point within the limits of the guide, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with the guide, of the follower-board slotted at its lower end, the verticallysliding brace D, provided with the stud d",and means, substantially as described, for locking the brace in position.

6. In combination with the follower-board and the brace, acting as described, the thumblatch E, constructed, as described, to serve the twofold purpose of guiding and locking the upper end of the brace.

In witness whereof I have subscribed my name in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN C. LANG.

\Vitnessesz H. A. DANIELS, L. C. YOUNG. 

